Gold medal health: Kristin Armstrong shares some of her favorite things
You may not make it to the Olympics, but you will be miles ahead of the competition if you set goals, says cyclist Kristin Armstrong, gold medal winner in the women’s time trial at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.
"Nobody else can set them for you," Armstrong says. "Your boss can’t set them. Your husband can’t set them."
The Boisean advises breaking long-term goals into bite-size pieces, like walking 20 minutes a day for a week, with a long-term goal of walking daily for a year.
"No matter what your goal is, you have to make a commitment and a sacrifice as an individual, and one goal leads to the next," Armstrong says.
Armstrong had some goal-setting questions of her own to answer last fall: Should she retire at the ripe old age of 35 or continue to race for another year?
"Physically, I am still in the game, and financially, it still is good," she said. For Armstrong, another year it is.
She stays busy, training every day. She works on ad campaigns and other events for Blue Cross of Idaho, the United Dairymen of Idaho and the National Peanut Board.
In addition to all that, she has started her own company, the Kristin Armstrong Cycling Academy, a training camp for aspiring young female cyclists.
As part of the academy, Armstrong teamed up this spring with local companies to start the Kristin Armstrong Cycling Academy Team. This is a Boise-based girls development cycling race team that could go national next year. The team has done well in regional and out-of-state races.
Being a role model to legions of bicycle-riding kids is something she takes very seriously. You will never see a picture of Armstrong on — or holding onto — her bicycle without a helmet on her head. "Once you are an athlete in the spotlight, the more important it is to hold yourself up in the public eye."
She and her husband, Joe, will have more time together this year than in past years, despite her busy schedule. "This year, the longest period of time I’ll be away is three weeks, so I will have more of a home base in Boise than I have in the past."
Armstrong has faced many challenges in her career, including osteoarthritis in her hips. She says yoga keeps her hip joints open and fluid, not tight and painful. She takes a yoga class at the YMCA.
Idaho Health asked Armstrong about how she got to the top and what keeps her going.
What fitness lessons do you hope children learn from you?
While I was growing up, you name the sport, and I played it. I wasn’t one to stick to one sport. Every season my parents signed me up for something new and exciting. Playing sports was FUN. When I speak to kids,
I always stress the fun factor of being active. Kids need to find something that is fun and engaging. Just like anything in life, if you enjoy what you are doing you will stick with it.
Were you born tough, or did you learn it on your bicycle?
I think it is in my blood. Also, through many years of playing and competing in sport, I learned to become both mentally and physically tough. My coaches and teammates have taught me along the way. It has taken years to develop, but I am sure I was also born with a natural "toughness" gene.
What is the secret to your success?
Chocolate milk – I use chocolate milk as my recovery drink after races and workouts. The carbohydrates fuel my muscles after exercise. The protein reduces muscle breakdown and stimulates growth. And milk’s natural electrolytes help restore fluid balance.
If you hadn’t found competitive biking, where do you think you’d be right now?
I probably would be working in a corporate setting as an account manager for an advertising firm. This is what I was doing prior to becoming a professional cyclist.
As an athlete, how do you feel about aging?
So far, so good. Cycling is an endurance sport, so typically women in the sport peak in their mid-30s. Cycling requires quite a bit of endurance and strength. It takes years to develop. Also, as I have aged as an athlete, the knowledge and experience I bring is incredible. It really makes a difference.
Where is your favorite place to ride your bike in Idaho?
There are so many wonderful rides in Idaho, my favorite being Bogus Basin. I love the beauty of the road. There isn’t much traffic, and the further you climb the more beautiful it gets. There is a reward at the top of the mountain – the gorgeous view of the Valley.
Where do you keep your gold medal and why?
My gold medal is in a safe at home. People ask me this quite often, and I think they expect me to say (it’s) hung up in a frame or something. As I share my story with others, I think that it is important to share the medal as well. People like to see and touch the medal. It isn’t every day that you see an Olympic gold medal. In fact, the first time I saw a gold medal was when I received mine in Beijing.
How does winning the gold medal change your life?
As an athlete, this is the pinnacle. I have been competing since the age of 5, so now after 30 years I have accomplished my biggest dream in sport. It has not changed me as a person. I am still the same Kristin as before winning the medal.
How do you prepare mentally for a race?
Before a big competition, I use a lot of visualization. I pre-ride the course on my bike that I compete on, as well as drive the course. This way, every portion of the course is in my mind. Once I do this, I will visualize myself on the course for days prior to the race. ... It is amazing what this exercise can do for you.
Do you listen to music when you train? What is it?
I listen to music while training quite a bit. Riding for four to five hours at a time can become quite lonely. Good music brings a lot of motivation while out for longer rides and harder training sessions.
You name it, and I listen to it. I have all sorts of music on my iPod and typically will just have it on the shuffle mode so that I never know what is up next. It keeps things exciting. One of my favorite groups is U2 and (the) song is "Beautiful Day."
